Resilient wheel



July 3, 1923. 1,460,494

J. F. MILLER RESILIENT WHEEL Filed July 22, 1922 vs Sheets- Sheet 1 gmmcm July 3, 1923 J. F. MILLER RES ILIENT WHEEL Filed July 22. 5.922

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwuenfo'a iii/mixer.

Patented July 3; 1923.

u-Ni'r no S'EAT s JAMES F.1V[ILLER,.QF MINDEN, LOUISIANA.

. nnsrninnr W niipl'ieation filed July 22,

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, JAMES F. MILLER, a' citizen of i the United States, residing at Minden, in the pa-rish of Webster and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient Nhe'els, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates" to resilient Wheels resilient spoke, Another object of the invention is to provide novel meansfor retaining the spoke against displacement relative to the hub and rim of the wheel, 'and a further objectof the invention is to proyide means whereby the hub may be readily adapted to axles of variouslengths A still further 010-.

jeet of theinvention is to proyide a con struction whereby the tension of the spokesmay be varied when necessary. Other ob jects will appear incidentally in the courseof the following description, and the inven tion resides in certain novel features which will be particularly. pointed out in the V ,end, the depressed end 'beingjthe outer. end,

of the crimp in the f rm shown in Fig.9}. 4

claimsfollowing the description.

In the accompanyingdrawings Figure l is a side elevation showing one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectionon the line 2-2 of l; i 1

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing another form of the invention; a

Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation, partly.

broken away and in section; of aihub em-I bodyi-ng the invention;

Fig. 6, isan enlarged section taken longitudinally of the hub and showingganother forin of the invention;v

Fig; 7 is an end viewof the hub partly Awheel embodying my invention includes a hub 1,; spokes 2, anda rim'3. The spokes are resilient. bands doubled or folded upon themselves so that the ends o fgthe, bands are brought siesta-together to: be received withinnotches or slots 4 in: the ends of the hub being retained therein by various means which Fig. v5 is :an enlarged. detailsection on the "Fig. 5", but.

1922. Serial means;

will be presentlyspecifioally set forth, "The 7 intermediate portions of the resilient bands constituting the spokes are preferably slight- I 1y crlmped upon themselves, as .shownat 5,.

and the rim is shapedaccordingly, as shown at 6, whereby th peakor ridge offthe crimp: I 111 therim will engage the trough or seat in) the cr mp of the spoke and thereby tend to prevent the movement of 'the spoke longr tudinally of the rim or circumferentiallyof the wheel. Thecrimp 6 in the rim maybe merely struck inwardly from the cir'ou'm-- ferential'wall of the rim, as shown in Fig; 8, .or the run may be pressed outwardly at opposite sides of the crimp to form long};

tu'dina'l seats 7. which will receive the bowed I understood. The crimes-. 6 in the rim. are,

portions ofthe spokesfat opposite for; the rimpt thereinfas shown. in Fig; 5,; thereby roviding a finn seat fort-{the outer? portions ofthe spokes, asif w'fill bereadily wherein the spokes areso disposed as to impartla dish tothe Wheelv corresponding to the dish commonly, employed in ordinary tend transversely of the over' the inner" circumference thereof and have" their" inner ends slightly offset, as shown at 9 to"f0r1n o lips to clamp thespok'ee against the rim, the Q outer edgesof the spokes being received be i tween the lips and therirn, as will be readily understood, In the zform' of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the clips areyin the form of tongues struck'up f'rom't'he outwardly ex;

tending flanges 10 of the rimand doubled over upon'the outer sides ofthe'sameand. I i

then folded. across the rim, as :lear'ly'v shown; In theforin of theinvention shown in Figs. 9 and I0, theclip llisia separatemember 'outerend formed'into a hook 12 whereby it consisting of. a strip of metal havino-j it mediatepo-rtion shaped to fitcloselyagainst the inner oircumterence of the; rim and the.

outerside of the flange 10,.v theinnerend portionjof the clip being extended entirely.

across the crimp of the spoke and having. its extremity bent. sharply i wardly, to =fit against the central rib or flange 13 of the rim, as shown at 14, and be secured to said rib or flange by a bolt or rivet 15.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the rim is provided on its inner circumference with a central rib or flange 13 and it is preferably constructed of two annular members, each constituting one-half of the rim and held against separation by bolts or rivets or other fastening devices inserted through the ribs or flanges 13 which project inwardly from their inner edges. This construction facilitates the assembling of a tire upon the rim and also facilitates the assembling of the spokes and hub. The ribs or flanges 1 3 are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal plane of the wheel so as to incline toward the inner side of the wheel, and the spokes 2 are arranged in contact with the said rib or flange whereby they assume a like angle to the longitudinal plane of the wheel and produce the dished effect which is desired.

The hub is constructed in two sections 16 and 17 which receive between them a reinforcing disk or annulus 18 which is held in tening devices 19 inserted through the hub sections and the inner portions of the disk. This disk 18 .is disposed at an angle corresponding to the obliquity of the spokes and at intervals around its outer edge is provided with lateral lugs20 arranged in pairs with the spokes passing between the members of the several pairs, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The spokes are thus held together at approximately the centers of their side portions and are not only held against displacement but are also reinforced so that the resilient action of the spokes is concentratedin the outer portions thereof and greater elasticity thereby imparted to the wheel so that its easy riding qualitiesare enhanced. Upon reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the hub section 16 has a sleeve or tubular extension 21 projecting centrally from its inner face and the section 17 is provided with a central openingthrough which the said sleeve extends, the sleeve thus constituting the axle-encircling member whereby the hub is fitted to and supported by the axle. The sleeve 21 is constructed with a longitudinal rib 22 adapted to fit within a longitudinal groove in the section 17 and relative rotation of the sections is thereby prevented. This construction permits the hub sections to be readily adjusted to the widths of the spokes and the thickness of the spacing reinforcing disk 18 so that, when the hub sections are fastened together, the ends of the spokes will be firmly clamped in place- To prevent withdrawal of the spokes from the hub, I may provide their inner ends with enlargements. 23, shown in Fig. 4, which may be conveniently formed by doubling the extremities of the spokes upon themselves, as shown. The grooves or recesses 4 in the ends of the hub members will be correspondingly shaped and the ends of the spokes will he slid endwise into the slits so as to be. firmly seated therein. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the slits or grooves are in the inner faces of the hub sections so that, when the hub sections are brought together and secured, the spokes will be firmly clamped against the central reinforcing disk 18.

It is intended that my improved resilient wheel be supplied to users insuch form that any wheel may be readily fitted upon the axle of any vehicle and as the wheel-carrying portions of the axles are not all the same length, it is necessary to provide means whereby the hub may be extended or elongated so that it may be fitted to any axle without permitting excessive play of the wheel longitudinally of the axle. I accomplish this result by enlarging'the bore of the sleeve 21, as shown at 24, and internally threading the enlarged portion, a shallow longitudinal groove 25 being provided at the outer end of the bore, as clearly shown. Within the enlarged internally threaded portion of the bore, I engage a thimble or skein 26 having a longitudinal groove 27 upon its exterior and having an annular head or enlargement 28 at one end, the said head being provided with an opening 29 therethrough in alinement with the groove 27, as shown. A bowed leaf spring 30 is fitted in the groove 25 and the groove 27 when they register and rotation of the skein or thimble within the hub will be thereby prevented. Obviously, rotation of the thimble or skein will cause it to move endwise or longitudinally within the hub, and the head or enlargement 28 may be thereby readily brought into" any desired spaced re lation to the outer end of the hub and, consequently, the inner end of the hub will be held against the annular shoulder or other form of stop provided on the axle and against which the hub should bear. When the usual axle nut and capare fitted upon the extremity of the axle, the wheel will be effectually secured in place and the dust cap may be provided with an elongated rim or annular flange to extend over'the head 28."

In Fig. 6, I have shown thedust cap as thus formed. Should it become necessary to readjust the hub of'thewheel, the latch spring 30 may be readily, withdrawn by inserting any convenient hooked tool through the opening 29 and engaging said tool in the end" After the latch has been withdrawn, the thimble or skein may be readily of the latch.

rotated so as to be adjusted in the bore of the hub as is obvious.

In Fig. 3, I have shown my invention em- I bodied in a wheel in which the spokes are nee ess not dished; but converge from the hub towardthe rim.z The-annular. rib or flange 31 of onerim sectionis, in'this. form of the invention, constructed exactly as the pres viously described form; although 'itmay be given a slightly more: acutelangle: The rib 32,. however, will be. disposed in diverging relation to the rib 3.1V and. has its inner'fre'e. edge provided with an annular pr'ojection 33 extending toward and abutting the rib or flange 31 so as to close the inner end: of

the space between-the: two ribs'or flangescollection: of dust.

and thereby prevent the and dirt in said space. This annular pro- I jection also reinforces the inner free edges of theribs so that they will more-.efl'ectually resist any tendency of'the spokes'to 'lateraldisplacement. The spokes. are. constructed in their outer portions in the same. manner and form as in the previously" described .embodimento'f theginve'ntion, but at. their. inner ends are provided' with notchesb3z4. upon their outer edges which: are adapted to be engaged by .annular'rib's or beads35 on the clamping; collars 36 whereby the spokes: will be firmlysecured' in the huba-ndw In this: form of the invention,-the hubis constructheld against radial withdrawal.-

ed in asinglemember and the spokes-receivmggrooves, shts', or recesses are' formed 1n the outer ends of the hub. In each. end of the hub is an annular groove 37 to. accommodatethe annular bead or rib 35 upon the: clamping collars 36 andat each end of'the hub is an. externally threaded boss or extension 38 uponwhich'the clamping collarsnare engaged, as shown and'as. will be readily understood. It will, of course,,be:.under-.

stood that theclamping. collars are provided with-bosses or headsfat their centers which may be readily engaged by a wrench or other turning tool. so :that they may be readily turned home against the respective end of the hub. As in the previously described form of the invention, the hub is provided. with an enlarged internally threaded portion 39 at its outer end which receivesa thimble or skein 40 corresponding in .all respects to the thimble or skein-26.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a construetion of hub which is especially adapted to vary the tension of the spokes. are, of course, tempered to a normal degree of resiliency and are set in the hubs so that,

when moderately free, they will respond to degree of resiliency.- It is dethis normal sirable, however, when applying resilient wheels to trucks to provide means whereby the spokes may be stiifened under a heavy load so that they will not collapse to too great an extent but will effectually support the load. This need is met in the construction shown in Fig. 6, in which 'the hub is constructed of two members 41 and 42 telescopic ally fitted together, the member 41 be-' adjusted.

internally: threaded to The spokes discomforts,

ingprovi'dediwith a tubular extension 43. ex:

tending through a central opening in the.

member 42in muclrthe same 111anneras the' sleeve 21' extends throughthe central open ing of? the hub section 17- in the first described form'of the invention. In the form shown in Fig; 6, however, the inner endsfof the spokes are secured i'n'fthe'hub members" by collars 44 fittedi upon externally threaded i bosses atthe outerends of the hub "sectionsf as clearly shown, and operating in the same manner as the clamping collars 36,=shown in" Fig. 3. ,The inner is mountedthereonand turned home against extremity ofthe sleeve 43,. I however, is externally threaded and a nut 45 f y the outer ends-of the inner hub member 42 and: the clamping collar44 mountedthereon so that'the said hub'member 42' may beset a closer. to-or farther fromgthe member 41,}

and it will, of course b e'understood that the adjustment movement is shared by'bothhub sections,the* sleeve 43 movingoutwa rdly .or

inwardlyfthrough the nut? and the hub sectively in the same direct-ionv as'ithe nut longitudinal rib. 47 upon thehubsection 41' .1 within a longitudinal groove 481m thenbore of the hub section" 42;.' as shown. and as will A; s-k-ein-or thimble. 49 is engaged withinthe outer enlarged-. por vtionof the bore ofthe hub member ii-and] corresponds in all respects: to the; thimbles- 0r skeins- '26 "and '40, previously '--describedz be; readily un derstood.

A .dust'cap. '50 isfitted; overtheaxle-andthe enlarged head of the ion 1 skeiil pr thimble. 49 g,

and the rim 51- of this dust'capis preferably 3 threads] upon the clamping collar 44, as shown, softhat access of dust to the: interior of vthe hub will be prevented and a neat finish impartedto the Wheel.

From j the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawhave provided a durable and efficient,

ings, it will be seen that I very simple, light but engage external. i H boss of the adjacent wheel which may be readily producedfand applied to any. vehicle and by the use of f which the employment of pneumatic tires will be unnecessary dent to the travel over rough roads. The resilient spokes in my device are effectually held in place at the rim andat the hub but at the same time shoulda spoke be broken,

in order-to avoid the I shocksand wearand -tear incianew spoke maybe very quickly and easily substituted therefor.

WVhile my resilient wheel is intended primarily for use withlsolid or cushion tires,

bowed resilient bands having their ends secured in the hub and their outer intermediate bowed portionsbearing against the inner circumference of the rim and against opposite sides of the central rib thereon, and clips fixed to the flanges of the rim and extending radially inward on the outer sides of said flanges and transversely to the inner circumference of the rim and thebowed portions of the spokes and secured to the sides of the central ribupon the rim.

2. In a wheel, the combination of a hub, a rim having. its circumference crimped transversely at intervals with the peaks of the crimps projecting inwardly from the circumference, spokes consisting otbowed resilient bands having their ends secured within the hub and their outer bowed portions provided with transversely extending crimps adapted to seat upon the crimps in the rim, and clips carried by the rim and engaging the crimped portions of the spokes.

3. In a wheel, the combination of a hub, a rim having its circumference crimped transversely. at intervals with the peaks of the crimps projecting inwardly from the circumference and one end of the crimp deeper than the opposite end thereof, spokes consisting of bowed resilient hands havingtheir ends securedwithin the hub and-their outer bowed portions provided with transversely extending crimps adapted to seat upon and extend across the crimps in the rim, and clips carried by the rim and engaging the crimped portions of the spokes to secure the spokes-to the rim.

4;. A:wheel comprising a rim having-a centralannular rib upon its inner circum- 'lerence, hub members provided in their inner opposed-faces withspoke-receiving slits, a reinforcing disk fitted between the hub members and projecting'annularly beyond the same, spokes consisting of bowed resili ent bands disposed at opposite sides of the said disk and the central rib on the rim and havingtheir ends engaged in the slits in the hub members and their outer bowed portions bearing against the inner circum- "ference of the rim, means carried by the rim for engaging the bowed portion of the spokes and preventing displacement thereof,

and laterally projecting lugs upon the said; disk on the opposite sides of the same at the outer edge thereof to engagewthe side portions of ad acent spokes 5. In a wheel, a run, a hubconsisting of coacting members, oneof said members hav V ing a sleeve extension extending through a central opening' n' the other member,

spokes having their ends engaged in the" hub menibers and their intermediate portions secured to the rim,"means for clamping the ends of the spokesin the hub inembers, means co-operating with the sleeveextension of the one hub member for securing the hub members in a set relative position to determine the tension of the spokes, and

means for preventing relative rotation of the hub members; r

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

-- J AMES F. MILLER. 

